Just 8 percent have enrolled thus far

Feb. 23, 2014

Pamela Roshell is the regional director for the Department of Health and Human Services. / File / The Tennessean

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With less than 8 percent of Tennessee’s uninsured having signed up for health coverage on the federal exchange as of Feb. 1, a push is underway to improve the numbers before the enrollment period ends.

The last count released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was 59,705. Open enrollment will end March 31.

“In Tennessee, we like to see as many consumers enrolled as possible,” said Pamela Roshell, the regional director for HHS. “Of course, there are over 800,000 uninsured in Tennessee. So we want to see every person who is uninsured enrolled.”

Of Tennesseans who have enrolled, 78 percent have qualified for subsidies toward buying coverage.

Roshell visited the main library in Nashville last week along with Mayor Karl Dean, who has directed the libraries to assist with the sign-up effort. It’s a game of catch-up because of problems that plagued the government website for the federal exchange during the initial months of enrollment, which began Oct. 1.

Enrollment time now averages 20 to 30 minutes when applicants have their information, such as yearly income statements and Social Security numbers, ready, said Jackie Shrago, a volunteer with Get Covered Tennessee.

People who need help enrolling can go to the Edmondson Pike Library from 10 a.m. to noon any Saturday through the end of March. The Madison library and the Bellevue library will offer help on Tuesdays starting at 5 and 5:30 p.m., respectively. The main library downtown provides the service from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Sign-ups occur at the Hadley Park and Hermitage branches at 5 p.m. Thursdays.

Roshell said her agency is partnering with churches, health clinics, barbershops and beauty shops to help with outreach.